lasker



Dec. 4 [1923.

w. w. LASKE-R SORTING MACHINE Filed Mzgch l7 1922 6 Sheets -Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

by ATToRNEw wazmwdimQ Dec. 4 1,476,161 W. W. LASKER soRTINg MACHINE Fi led March 17. 1922 6 Sheeis -S he et 2 Dec. 4 1923'. 1,476,161

- w. w.- LASKER.

SORTING MACHINE Filed March 17; 1922 6 sheets shet' 5 Dec.4,19 23.- 1,476,161

. 4 w. w. LASKER I SORTING MACHINE Filed March 17. 1922 s Sheets -Sheet 4 Ccmmndn weight Freiqhf Advances Prepaid (Liam) I Forwarding Sui-inn {DQOOGOGOOOOOOOOGGOO00900 1o1f11 111 1 101 11111111011 22ozzzzazzzaozzzzzzzzzoz '333703333353330335333333 7 777777077 7 7 777 770 777 777 a 888 s a a sOEa s a a a sa aoa--s s s 2 Dec. 4, 1923. v

v w. w. LASKER SORTING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1922 6 SheecS Sheet OKFL Q inventor 1- Dec. 4 ,1923

w. w. LASKER SORTINQ MACHINE 6 Sheets -Sheet Filed March 1'7. 1922 I M Allomey d f f- RatentedDec. 4,1923, I I i .l eok men w. LBlSKEB, or BROOKLYN, new irons, essrsnon, .eY Inn-sun essrenivzn 'iws, 1T0 :Pownns ACCOUNTING meomun conroanrron, or new YCBK, n, e. con- .roimmonor DELA AR i sonrmenmomnn. I v v I Application fi1esisaren,17,1922. semaino. 544,417; x all whom it may concern: I Fig.8 isa detail sectional View on the line ?'Be it known that LWILLIAM "W, LASKER, '88 of Fig. 7, and i a it'izen of the United States, residing in Fig. '9 is a plan View of one type of card 5 Brooklyn, in'the county of Kings and State which the machine of my invention is adapt- +5 of e\v 'Yo1'l(, have invented certain new and elite sort or classify.

" useful' lmprovements in ScrtingMachines, Referring to the drawings by characters of which the following is a specification; 1 of reference, and particularly to Figs. 1,2 and "1 Myinvention-relates broadly and generally 3; 1, 1 designates side members of a support- -30 wand useful improvements in machines ing frame for certain mechanisms of the maorting or classifying perforated cards, chine, said members being preferably in the .ll," for example, as areused in automatic form of vertical parallel plates, the bases of '-alci'ilating and adding machines, and more Which are adapted tobe supported in any particularly to machines of the general charsuitable ot er upon a foundation or stand aetcrjortyp'e disclosed in Letters Patent No. (not shc ."l'iese plates 1, 1 serve to supi 5'I ,'315,370,'dated Septemberfi, 1919." portifieedlng 't'chamsm, analyzing mecha- "H'ph bj fofthe i nti i t id nisrn, and ass-it nte'dparts, as will lac-more sorting machine-Which will be'highly elli fully descrd hereinafter, said platesbeing i merit," of a; great degree ofinccuracyand cerliifid 1n vertlcalgiarallelism by means 7e minty in operation, and which at the same of horizontal tie rods of any suitable con 2oti1ne will operate at an increased speedin trmtion and arrai'igement.v

sorting theoa'rds," Without detracting from The card feeding means may be of any thgid' i bfl a uray d ffi i suitable construction. for successively ,ad- Theinvent'ionconsists in the improvements- 'Vancing or projecting cards one a time 75 'a'r'idnovel construction ofelements and-their fl'om attack or other supply, for ex mple, aggroupment'in operative"combination, to be d means may, if desired, be the same were fully described 'l'ierei' an and the as that "shown and described in the letters no elty of which will ph ilai-ly pointed: Patent: above mentioned; Briefly described,

outand distinctly claimtl a v said means comprises a magazine or hopper a 1 .I-;'l mve fully and clearly llustrateda pr;- 3 rigidly mounted on the said inen'ibers 1, 3o f'r'r'ed embodiment "of my invention in the nd dap ed to Support a packor stack of 1 afi'g'gy' panyinw d' wino t b t k s a p rt horizontally disposed cards .to be sorted,

o'f-lihesespecifications, and Wherein' 'lhis magazine is open. at its bottom portion, igure '"fl isfa top plan iew, paa tly'in seeand beneath the same is arranged a reeipro- SE ,t ,z;"and. W'lf/llf certain parts removed nd eating :teed block 4, guided in guides 4 at the 3;) broken away for the sake "of clearne'ss, showlower part of the inagazine,-and having on 115' mg a preferred '5 of certain elements shown in, Fi 3" frames 1 and driven in suitable ineai s a f 7 h 7- 1mg. 6 1s a detail View, partly in seetiemo;

- so mechanism for "operating 'nbodiment of my inven its under-side a lug 5 connected" byv means non, v a link- (i to the upper end ore lever?- rigidly Fi 2 is l ngifi cli nal seetio on the line mounted on a horizontal rook-shaft 8 mount on Q'of'Fig. 1; ed in suitable bearings Q in the frame menr Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line bers'l. 'lhelever 7 is connected, as at 10, u 3 of Fig. 1; j one end of a leveror eccentric rod, provided @Fi 4 is a'detail sectional View on the With anfleccen'tric strap 11,,inou1ited on an line of Fig. 3; eccentric 12' fixed on a horizontal shaft 13, Rj 5 i an l d d t il ti l i w. mounted in suitable bearings 13 in the side wilL-e hereinafter described where bloc 1s reciproceted acres certain mechanism shown in plan at tli lo erleft-hand corner'of r W theamigazine. The-block or is crow -,--"F1g.'7 1s ardetail mam fe sett'all tiii11ii ts rear portion with a I e i o 9., f: 1:: I

certam means for 'crade 1 4 pro ecting a prop controlling entrance or receipt ctcar at the'upper tace or' the l its designated station; tend behind and be m efficiently employed.

the rear edge of the, lowermost card'in the stack contained in the magazine 3. The forward portion of the magazine is provided with a micrometer slot 15, so that when the block 4 is moved forward a card enga d by said blade 14 will be. rojected throug said slot 15 to be presente to analyzing means to be presently described. I wish it understood that my present invention is not limited to any particular means for feeding thecards mechanism, the means thus to the anal zin y 5 being but one which maybe briefly describe When the card is injected through the slot 14, it is received By a suitable transferring means, which may consist of an upper roller 16 mounted on a horizontal shaft 17, and a cooperatin lower roller 18 mounted on a horizontal shaft 19, said rollers frictionally engaging each other, and the lower shaft carrying agrooved belt-pulley 20 driven by a power belt 21 driven by any suitable source of power, preferably an electric motor (not shown). On the shaft 17 (see Fig. 6) 1s fixed a pinion 22 which meshes with apinion 23 fixed on the shaft 19, the pinion 23 meshing'with a pinion 24 on the stud shaft 25, the latter carrying a second pinion 26 which in turn meshes with a large gear 27 fixed to the shaft 13, heretofore described. whereby the latter is rotated to actuate the connecting rod to reciprocate the feed block 4, here'- ed in bearings (see Fig. 3),each shaft carryingfeed rollers 32, the peripheries of which project through openings in the plate 29 and enga e the under face of a card outside the per orated area thereof to feed the card from between the plates at the proper time. When the card has'heen analyzed, and is fed forward by the rollers 32, it is caught between upper and lower contacting transmission rolls 33. mounted on shafts 34, 3:"). respectively, and is moved forward toward the receiving station or depository which has been previously determined by-the analyzing means to receive the card. The shaft 30 is driven by the gear 24. which meshes with a gear 36 mounted on said shaft (Fig. 6). The gear 27 meshes with a small gear 37 on a skid shaft 38, which also carries a gear 39 meshing with a gear 40 on shaft 31, whereby the latter, and the rollers carried thereby, are driven. The ar 39 also meshes with a gear 41 on the s aft 35, and the gear 41 meshes with a gear 42 on the shaft 34, whereby the rolls 33 are driven to feedthe card forward as described. Over the upper pin platev28, are rollers 28 (see Figs. 1 and 5) projecting through openings 28 in said plate, and cooperating with t is driven rollers 32. The rollers 28 are each mounted on one arm of a bell-crank lever 28 fulcrumed, as at 28", on a bracket 28, on a plate 28 held by screws 28 on the upper side of the plate 28. The other arm 28 of each bell-crank lever projects upward, and the cards to be 'classifiedor sorted, and which serves to control the receipt or deposit of the card or cards at the proper receiving station or depository.

Upon reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings.

it will be seen that the card A therein shown' is divided into a lurality 'of parallel columns a, each of w ieh is allotted to certain data or designations which it is desired to have recorded by the card. Each of these columns comprises a plurality of spaces b, certain of which are adapted to bepunched. in order'to record desired data or designations upon the card; for example, the col- Ion umn 0 maybe employed to record data as to months during which certain transactions, entriesor events take place, and the space allotted to the month 0 .the transaction, for

example, the space allotted to February is perforated if t at is the itemdesired to be recorded. It will be noted that the spaces in' each column are in vertical alinement,viewing the card from its front longitudinal edge, and also that corresponding spaces in all of the collimns register lengthwise of the card, that is, the filst space'in each column alines with the first space in the other col-v umns, and so on. If the cards are to be classified according to months, by way ofexample, the machine may be set so as to sort out all cards of the same month and depositthcm at a suitable station, so that all cards for that month will be selected from a number of cards having perforations in the column c in spaces allotted todifierent months. that is, the machine may be set to pick out and classify all card" for the month of February, or fortwo or more months, depositing'thosefor each month together .at a pro-' per individual station. The improved means --r0r accomplishing this result will now be described The analyzing means (see particularly igs. a and comprises the plates 28, 29,

.here'toforo mentioned, which plates are when a card to be sorted passes to the analyzer and between the plates 28, 29, areas on the card will register with almmg corresponding PQl'lfOIllZlOIlS 1n said plates,

the end plates 47, and with which is adapted to cooperate stop arms 64 on lower sides of ment of the pins 48 relative to the carrier or pinbo'x is limited. Connected to the 'bar 63 is one end of a spring 65, the other end of which is connected to one arm 66. of a bell-crank'leve'r 67, which is fulcrumed at the levers 52, whereby the projecting moveits angle on the pivot 51 heretofore described.

The other arm 68 of the bell-crank lever 67 extends upward and is provided on the side toward the bar 56 with an arm 69 having at its end a locking recess 70. The arrangement is such that when'the pin-box is moved toward the card-holding lates, by means to be hereinafter described, certain of the pins will pass through perforations in the and any perforated areas in the card wilL plates and registering perforations in the register with the plate openings, for a pur- J pose to be presently described.

Arranged over the plates 28, 29 are trans- I verse horizontal bars d5, upon which are slidably mounted brackets or cars 46 carried on the front and rear walls ft? of a carrier, preferably in the form of a box, and containing analyzer or detector elements pted to cooperate with the perforations he plates 29, in order to feel or detect l." card perforation which may be in regiswith any upper and lower. alining perions in said plates. In the present emnt, the detector-elements comprise a ty of pins 48 arranged in alinement row transversely from front to rear for:

of the pin-box, and extending lengthwise of the machine and slidably mounted in openings in a guide bar 49, the ends of which.

idly secured to the plates 47. Conupper ends of these pins are i bars 50, the upper end of of whit i is pivoted, as at. 51, to an insdiate point on. a lever 52, one end of on lever is mounted to rock on a horital shait 53 carried by the said plates the lever 521's provided at its free endwith a latch recess 55 adapted to take posi ticn under a transverselatch bar 56 mounted an a pivot bar 57 supported 'in' the side plates 47, and to which is rigidly connected endarnis the free, ends of which are connected by a hair 59,.the arrangement being h to provide a bell-crank motion on the bar 57 as a fulcrum; "The levers 52 are arranged to rock in the spaces between the teeth or lingers 52 of a guide comb 52", ri idly supported its ends in any suitable manner by the pistes 47. The bar 56 is normally urged toward the ends of the levers by means of a torsion spring 60 surroundthe bar '5'? and having one end suit 7,7 secured to said bar 56, and its other anchored, in any suitable manner, to av Si :ed to the bar '57 by a set 7 Beneath the levers 52'is a transcard, and others will be arrested. and held by the imperforated portions of the' card. One or all of the-pins which cannot pass through the card will be held stationary,

shown in shaded lines in Fig. 5, whichwill throw its lever 68 into engagement with, the bar 59, the latter being received by a reoess""71. This movement serves to throw .the lever 58 toward the left of Fig. 5, thereb causing the bar 56 to be thrown to the right and over the locking recesses 55 on the levers 52 which are connected to pins 48 which are in line with perforations in the card, so that these pins are rigidly connected to the pin-box and move positively therewith in the movement of thelatter toward the card. 'This rigid connection is for'a the return or upward movement of the justdescribed return to the normal position shown' in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The pinsingle hole in a column in a card, for example, to cooperate only with those cards which are-perforated, say, in the March area of the month column, under which circumstances only those cards having such perforation will be sorted out and collected in the appropriate depository, this being an example of what is known in the art as split sorting. the pins 48 will be. employed, and the remainder rend'eredinactive, this being accompiished by grasping the lever 68 of each pin desired to be inactive and engaging its looking. recess 70 with the bar 59, whereby any pin or pins attached to such levers will be held in a retractedor inactive position, and cannot cooperate with perforations in the card, when the piri bo'x is moved toward the card. By this arrangementcny one or a' In this case but one of pin-box all-of the levers, pins and elements purpose to be presently described, Upon plurality of the pins may be rendered inactive, and others permitted to remain active to perform the selecting or detecting operation. Whenall of the pins areactive so as to sort according to any perforation-in 4 heads 72 having inwardly projecting arms 73, each of which carries a sleeve 74 slidably mounted on a post 7 5 which is rigidly mounted on theside frames 1, 1.. Each of the brackets 72 is provided on its outer facewith a stud 76 to which is connected one end 3 of an eccentric rod 77, the other end of,

which carries an eccentric strap 78 surrounding an eccentric 79 fixed to the shaft 13. It will be'seen that when the shaft 13 is rotated; the pin-box will be reciprocated relative to the plates29. The shaft 13 is driven from the shaft 17 by means of the transmission gears 16, 22, 26 and 27, as

, heretofore described. The arrangement and timing of the elements is such that a card is. fed from the magazine and into the space between the plates 28, 29. while the.

pin-box is at such a -point abovethe plate that the pins do not enter the perforations in said 'plate, whereupon the 1 pin-box is caused to descend to read or, analyze the card between the-plates; the pin-box is then raised to permit the analyzed card to be ejected from, and another card to be received between. the perforated plates.

The )in-box is adjustable lengthwise of ;the bars so as to locate the pins over the row'of perforations in the plates 28, 29,

- which correspo'nd to the column in the card A. which contains a designation or item which controls the sorting operation, for example, as stated, to take position over the row of perforations corresponding to the month column on the card A.

ncr side with a pluralityof vertical notches 45mm the pin-box is provided with a suit-- able latch to cooperatewith said notches to lock th box in the desired row of perforations in the pin plate. 'Ihe latch preferably consists of a vertical bar 45 (see Fig. 4) having longitudinal slots 45? receiving upper and lower stud pins 45 on one of the end plates 4'7, said bar. having a key 45 adapted to enter one of the 'slots 45. The bar is normally urged upwardinto locking position bya tension spring 45, one end of which is connected to the upper stud-pin 45, and the other end of whichis connected to a pin 45 onfthe bar. When the box is One of the bars 45"is provided on its into be released from the bar 45, the latch-bar 45 is moved down until the key 45 clears thev bar 45, when the box may be adjusted lengthwise of the bar 45, and again be locked in position by the latch bar.

'When the pin-box is projected into analyzing or detecting relation to the plates '28, 29, and the card A, the pin or pins 48 selected to respond to certain card perforations are projected through said plate and card perforations and cooperate with certain setting mechanism which sets into action instrumentalities, to be hereinafter described, at the station or'depository which roperly should receive cards like the one I einganalyzed by the pins 48.,

the under face of the plate 29, there being one of} said bars extending lengthwise of and beneath each row of transverse 'perforations in the plates 28, 29. Each of these bars 80 is provided with depending extensions 83 on the ends thereof, and to each of which extensions is pivotally connected, as

at 84, one endof a lever 85, said levers being each pivotedlat an intermediate point on fixed pivot bars 86' which are parallel to each other and supported oirbrackets 87, 88 depending fromtransverse parallel bars 89, the ends'of which are supported by angle brackets 90 (see Fig. 5) secured to the under side of plate 229; One of the levers 85, is

provided with an inner extension 9l'provided with. an end slot 92, and the other lever is provided with an inner extension 93 overlapping the inner end of the extension 91 'a-ndprovided with a lateral lug 94 located within the slot 92, whereby said levers are causedto swings nultaneously. The normal position of the levers 85 is indicated in Fig. 3 and by the corresponding shaded ele lments in Fig.5; The arrangement is such that whena pin 48 passes through a perforation in the plates 28, 29, it strikes the thrust-receiving bar 80 and moves the same downward, thereby moving the outer ends of the levers 85 downward and the respective inner ends 91, 93 upward to the position shown by the unshaded elements in Fig. 5. Theinner endof one of the inner extensions on the levers 85, for example, the extension 93, is provided with afrecess or'notch 95 having an inwardly inclined face--96,and

mounted on; the bracket 87 is a latch member I 97 having an in'clined nose QS-adapted to enter s id recess 95) or to take a position bethe extension ad acent recess,

rotating with the shaft 13 heretofore des ibed. The arrangement is such that when the inner ends of the members 91 and 93 are moved upward, as heretofore described, the,

inclined face 96 serves to move the nose 98 the latch out of said recess 95, whereupon the tension. spring 103, anchored to the latch 91 at a pointon the bracket 87, thrusts the locking end of the latch into position under the extension 93, substantially as shown in lg. of the drawings, whereby the levers will be locked in theposition shown in p until the cam 102 acts upon the latch row the same beyond the end of the face 96 into the position shown in Fig.3, whereupon the spring 103 pulls the latch nose into engagement with the inclined face 96 andthereby assists in. moving the inner ends of thelevcrs downward, thereby lower ing the outer ends thereof and moving the detector bar 80 position, that is, closely surface of the plate 29.

simultaneous operation of the levers is employed to transmit motion to sett-able guide arms 1.06, and adapted to cooperate with a plunger 107 connected to a plunger shaft 108 extending through a flexible tube 109 to the point where the settable means is adapted to be operated, as will be hereinafter described. It will be understood that in the preferred embodiment of my invention, the bars 80 beneath. each transverse row. of perforations in the plates 28, 29, so that the machine will be capable of analyzing the perforations contained in thecolumnof any card which may register with the transverse rows of plate perforations- Therefore, the invention is not limited either to the number of rows ofperforationsin theiplatcs 28, 29, or to the number of bars which it may be found advisable to use in a. machine. It will. also he understood that each such bar 80 as may be employed is provided with the looking levers 85, and that when a plurality of bars are employed, as herein shown, the latch lever 97isin the form of a' bar or plate back into its uppermost adjacent the lower The downward movement .ofthe detector bar 80 and the means, to be hereinafter described, for conthcre is oneof.

of said bar relative to the plates 28% cause it not onlyserves to efiiciently support the bar 80,'butalso insures parallel'motion.

29, irrespective of the point lengthwise 0 the which. may be engaged-by detecting pin 70 passing through a perforation in a card! i I will now describe one-form of receivini-fi station or depository 1 or system thereo 1 adapted to receive'cards" analyzed as here tofore described, and the means operated 7 by the shaft 108 for setting said settab'le means.

tween the plates 28, 29, it is grasped bygthe rollers 33 and is fed along'to the series of receiving stations to be deposited inthe ,proper station; determined by the analyzih cards thereto and cards therein, may-be;

the open up yin'g; the

bars herein shown is desirable, be-

means when the card e asanal zed. Thes stations, and the means for feeding the controlling" the entry" of if desired, s'ubstalntially'the same as that shown and described Q in the patentheretofore mentioned, but in order that n'i'y present invention will be more readily understood, I will) briefly describe such receiving means.

anal sing" means are oppositely disposed parallel side In line with -the to rails 1.10 supported in'an s itor I able manner from longitudinal side ames 111, fancl'jbeneath said traclnvaysjare jarranged apl'urality of card compartments or receptacles 112 adapted to receive the-cards. Between theguides or trac'kways ar'eia* plu-=" rality of horizontal shafts 113,.ther e' begin preferably; one of said shafts over eachjo for ends of said receptacles, said shafts being"mounted in suitable bearings 114 supported by said sideflframes hereto fore described; These shafts. carryrollers '5 f 115 spaced lengthwise of the "shaft'and rigidly secured thereto, said rollers cooperating with lower," rollers 1161oosely mounted on shafts 117, the contacting surfaoes'of the" rollers 115 and 116 being disposed inline with the plane of the path, of movement along which the cards travel in passin'g' to. the receiving station. The sh'aftsll'? are. mounted in suitable bearings inthe side frame. Each of'the shafts 113 carries a bevelled gear 118 meshing with a bevelled gear 119 on a shaft 120 mounted in suitable be-aringson the frame and carrying atyone end a worm 121 meshingwith'aworrn 122* on the end of shaft 34, whereby .the}" said shafts 120 and 113 are driven to feed cards lengthwise of 7 Associated Withcach receiving station is means to'arrest the travel of a'card-to be? deposited'at that station, which means 'con sists'of a plurality of deflectors 123 rigidly connected to a deflector. shaft which, inthe present instance, may be the'shaft 117' oarloose rollersllfi. :Each of; these "ling; transversely of the leniithof said deflectors 123 comprise apart 19/1 norma 1 'l" he particular arrangement "of "lying in line with the da'rdtrackwaYan lie-card -When a card is ejected from, be-t zl the series of re'ceiving stations.

cessof a card to its proper receptacle, for 4 example, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, will arrest motion of the card along the trackway and direct it into its proper rece tacle.

The means'for so operating the deflector bars comprises a settable means, preferably,

for example, substantially that shown in.

said patent for determining the time of the raising of the deflector bars so that the deflector bar for any particular receptacle will cam surface or projection 143. q-Eacll cam be operated to receivea card for that receptacle when the card reaches the same; Mountedupon one of the side supports 1 of the machine is a casing 126 for gearing, to be presently described, and containing-a bearing 12?, in which turns one end of a. timing shaft 125. the latter also being supported in one or-more bracket plates 129 arranged at intervals lengthwise of the series of receiving stations. This shaft. 128 carries a gear 130 meshing with a worm 139 fixed to one end of the shaft 13 (see Fig. 3). On the 'timing shaft128 are fixed, one for each compartment, a plurality of timing. discs 140, and disposed around each timing disc, and equal distances apart, are a plurality of tripping supports or pivots 141, on whiclrare pivotally mounted settable tripin" means in the form of cams 142' each of P n i whichis provided at its inner edge with a 142 -is spaced from the disc 140 by means of a collar 14-1 mounted on the pii.1141. On

the free end of each settable camjissecured a pivot pin '145 on which is pivotally mounted a detent 146 provided with an o'utwardl pointing releasing finger 147 and an inwar 1y pointing detent 118 having a slot-14S provided with an active detent shoulder 149 and an inactive detent shoulder 150. either one of which is adapted to rest against a detent pin 151 mounted upon the disc 141. and located in said slot. Saidfinger 148 is held pressed against the said detent pin by means of a tension spring 152 connected to the said finger 14S aud'to any suitable fixed point on the disc. 141. Upon each pin 145 there is also carried a roller 153 adapted when the active shoulder 149 engages the detent pin to engage an operating'arm 151 fixed upon the shaft 11?, whereby the said shaft is operated to raise the deflectors thereon and deflect. a card into that compartment. After the operating arm 154 has been operated as stated, the releasing. finger 14? engages thereleasing pin 155 carried upon the outer end of the operating arm 154, whereby the active shoulder 149 is forced away i'romthe eflectorbar also includes. a. guidepin 151 and the spring 152- causes the tripp1ng cam anddetent to move inward until the pin 151 is engaged b -the inactive shoulder 150. To each of t e arms 154 is connected a spring 156, one end of which is connected to the lever 154, as shown in Fig.

8, and the other end of which is anchored to a rod 156 rigidly supported on the frame, to throw said arm to return the shaft 117 and fingers 124 into position .to close access to'the rece tacle 112,

Adjacenteaci of the timing discs is a bracket 129 having a lateral extension 158, and fixed to the bracket 129 is a. plan er cylinder 159 in which is slidabl arrange a setting plunger 160 having a lead 161 between which and an end of the cylinder is an' expansion spring 162. which exerts its' force the-end of the casing or flexible tube'109 belng connected to the extension 158.

The gears 130. 139 are so proportioned that each time a card is analyzed by, the pin-v box, oneof the tripping cams is just coming into operative relation to one of the plungers 160.

\Vhen a card is between the plates 28, 29 to be analyzed. and an analyzing pin 48 finds a perforation and presses upon the bar SO, the latter is de ressed to vthe position shown in Fig. 5, wiereupon the lever 104 actuates the plunger wire 108 to in turn actuate the lever 164 to project the plunger 160 into position to be engaged by the tripping cam 142 at that time coming into oper ative' relation to the said plunger 160. When the bar 80 'is depressed the latch 97 moves into locking relation to the extension 93 (as shownin Fig. 5). which action. by reason of the connection between the levers .93, 91. looks the arm 104 in position to maintain the wire 10S projected to hold the plunger 160 projected into the path of the tripping ram 142 uiitil the latter is positively. The timing of the. cam102 which actuated. releases the. latch 97 to permit the plunger 160 to he retractedfby its spring, is determined so as to not permit such retraction until it is certain the trip )ing camwill be actuated to project the re ler 153 outward to engage the actuating lever 1.34. Preferably. the release does not take place until the pin-box has been retracted. the analyzed card ejected from the plates'28. 29. a new card ted to the latten-arid-the pin-box has descended to point.where"the pin -148is about to-i-nter aperforation in the upper plate 28, whereby the maximum time of projection of the plunger 160 is obtained.

more remote therefrom than to reach the compartments nearer the same, and provision is made for operatlng the deflector bar 124 for a particular compartment just at the 4 instant that a card destined for said com partment reaches the same, so that each card may be deflected into its appropriate coma partment without having to wait until sutficient time has elapsed tor another card to be reflected into the most remote comp'art ment. In order to accomplish this, it is merely necessary to place the plunger 160 associated with each compartment and its stack of ,cards to be sorted are every timing disc, ciated operated arm 154;, that the tripping cam which comes into operative relation with such plunger at the time the card is in the analyzer has just the timeto pass from such plunger to said operating arm as the card which operates said plunger requires to pass from the analyzer to its deflector. In order to fulfil these conditions, the plungers 160 must be placed spirally around the timing shaft, the plungers amociated with the most remote-compartments being placed the greatest distance from the operating arm 154;, such distances being measured forward from the plunger in the direction of rotation of the discs, indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7.

As thepractical embodiment herein described is provided with twelve compartments, and the timing discs are each provided with only six tripping cams, it is necessary that the tripping cams of one disc be placed in staggored relation'with the tripping cams of the adjacent disc, so that a tripping cam' on disc will come into operative relation with the associated plunger 160 just at the instant the card isbeing analyzed, otherwise, some of the plungers would he operated at an instant when thepoint of the disc midway between adjacent cams would be opposite-the plunger. and no settin oi the tripping cam would take place. T e number of tripping cams can beeither greater orless than that shown, if desired.

I'believe the operationof the invention will be apparent from the fore oing, but will briefly describe the same as-i ollows: A

laced in the magazine 3, and the pin-box oi the analyzing means is adjusted transversely of the f machine so that the row'of pins 48 takes position over the row of perforations in the plates 28, 29 with which the column of a card containing the controlling perforation or perforations is adapted to register as the cards pass between the plates 28, 29. Power is then applied and the picker bar 4 feeds such plunger pin strikes or exerts its tin upon the underlying bar 80.

such a distance from the assoshown in ig.

the cards one at a time-from the bottom oi may be in register with the perforations in the plates beneath the plunger pinn'and When the is struck it 1s depressed to the position which throwsthe levers to the positions shown in full lines in Fig, 5 and actuates. the thrust wire 108 to project the plunger 160 at the station where the card analyzed is to be received. "When the lovers are moved to the position shown in full iines in Fig. 5, the loo ting notches 96 pass outoi gage-merit with the locking nose 98 on the latch-97, and the latter takes the position 5, whcrehy the levers 85 are locked in theposition to which they have been moved by the thrust of the selecting pin 48, and as a consequence the plunger .168 is held positively projected. toward the trig. ping cams on the timing'disc for a, definite period of time, thereby bringing about the setting'of the tripping cam just as it comes into operative relation with such piunger. Whenthis takes place, the set trippingcam andthe card which has causedv its setting respectively travel toward-the operatingarm 154 and the deflectors 12% associated with that compartment; and because of the relation between the location of theplunger 160, the remoteness of the compartment from. the analyzer, and the speedsoi' travel the plates of the set 1 tripping cam and the card, said tripping cam comes into operative relation with'the operating lever 154 just before the card comes into operative relation with the den flectors, whereupon set tripping cam operates the opera-tin ierer 15a and consequently the associate deflector and deflects the card into its designated compartment.

The operating cam inn nediately passes on and permits the deflectors to fall so that a card immediately following the card thus.

151, whereupon the tripping I finger 147engages the tripping pin latch to permit a it is positively assured that the tripping cam has been projected to operative position, and for this purpose is not released until the next subsequent descent of the pin-box brings the pins just above the perforations pass therethrough and again exert its thrust upon such bar.

i The machine may be provided with suitable means for automatically disconnectlng the current supplied to the driving motor ill ' switch points.

to thcrcbv sto the machine. in the event no card is fed to the plates 28 and 29. Inasmuch this mechanism formsno' part of my present invention, I wil describe it but briefly.

, On the frame of the machine is arranged acasing 165 (Fig. 6), in which are arranged switch points 166 for the current leads to the motor, and with which points cooperates a switch member 167 mounted on a pivot 168, said member being adapted to be moved into engagement with the'switch points by means of a manually operated plunger 169. \Vhen the plunger 169 is depressed, and the switch member 167 is engaged with the switch points, it is held in this position by means of a trigger le 'er to which'said plunger is connected, whichlevcr is mounted on the pivot 168 and connected to the switch lever by a spring 170. said lever- 170 having a latch point 171 to cooperate with a notch 172 in a locking lever 173 fill? crumed at 173 in the casing. The arrangement is such that when the current is to be broken manually, the latch lever 173 is moved to the left of Fig. 6, whereby the lever 170 is released and through a pin 170'.

ter is thrown out of engagement with the a boss 175 in which is slidably arranged a plunger 176 which extends downward through openings in the pin plates (see Fig.

3)," and is connected at its lower end with an operating lever 177'fulcruined on the frame at 178. The plunger 176 is urged downward by means of a spring 179. On the plunger 176 is an arm 180 on which is a pin 181 adapted to cooperate with an opening 182m the pin plates. When the head 73 descends and there is a card between the pin plates, the pin 1S1 engages the card and holds the rod 176 against further downward movement, but it there is no card between the pin plates, the pin 181 passes downward through the plates and the rod l'pon one of the heads 73 is lzyo exerts a downward thrust on the lever 1 7. When the inner end of the lever 177 is moved downward, the opposite end is moved upward and lifts one end of a lever 183, fulcjrumed at an intermediate point, as at 184, on the framc,the opposite end of said lever, as at 185, engaging with an arm 186 on the lower end of the, trigger-lever 173 which operatescsaid lever 17 3 to release ,the switch lever and permit its spring 174 to throw it out of engagement with the points 166 and thereby break the current. ()n the switch lever 167 "s a locking pawl 187 to engage a notch moved into said engagement by :a spring 189. This pawl 1 87 maintains the lever 173 in position to have the locking nose 171 on the lever 170 properly engage the lOCking notch 173.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine of the character described,

ceiving a card at. that station; means controlled by a card being analyzed for setting said mechanism at the receiv ng statlon into operation; and means operated by the analyzing mechanism whereby said-setting means is held in setting relation to theisaid mechanism for a definite period of time.

2. In a machine of the character described, analyzing mechanism; a receiving station; mechanism at the receiving station to recei e a card at that station; means coutrolled by a card being analyzed for setting said mechanism into operation atfthe receiving station; means whereby saidsetting means 1S held in setting relation to the said mechanism for a definite period of time; and means for releasing said means when the mechanism at the receiving station has been set into operation.

3. In an apparatus of the character described. the combination of a plurality of sorting stations; an anal'y' ier; a mechanism at eaclrrecciving station and adapted to be operatedthrough a card in the analyzer destined for its station; means at each station to cause the operation of the said mechanism at that station so that the turd is received at that station; and means operated by the analyzer for locking said means in setting position until the mcchanisnris in operation at the receiving station, 4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of sorting stations: .an analyzer; a setting means associated with each station and adapted to be operated through a card in the analyzer destined for its station; mechanism forv each station adapted to be set. in

. operation t0 receive a cadrat its station by the associated settingmeanfiand means for I means for maintaining pinlm'eans cooperable with said perforations .each station and adapted to be actuate scribed, a plurality be set by said setting means,

1,47e,1,e1 9 characteristic of a card, a receiving station for cards, timing -means' receipt of cards at said station, setting means actuatedby said timing means, means setting means in position to set the'timing mechanism, andmeans to release sai lock and setting means after the timing mechanism is set.

means insetting posilocking the setting put into operation until its mechanism is' tion to receive the card.

5. Inyan apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of sorting stations, an analyzer comprising a member having rows of perforations an in means cooperable with said perforations and registering perforations in a card, an individual setting means associated with each station and adapted to be actuated by said pin means, mechanism for each station adapted to be set into operation by the as-' for locking said individually actuated by said detector pins characteristic to set when detecting a card said timing means, and means forlocking 'any'of said setting means in position to. set said timing means. A

11. In an apparatus of the character described, an analyzer comprising a perforated plate having parallel rows of perforations adapted to register with perforations in a card to be analyzed, pin means to detecta trolling the operation of the setting means to be received at its proper station, and the settingmeans in setting positionuntil the mechanism is in operation to receive the card. 6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of sorting stations, an analyzer comprising a member having rows of perforat ons an and registering perforations in a card, an

individual setting means associated Sigh y said pin means, mechanism for each station adapted to be set'into operation by the associated setting means to cause a card controlling the operation of the setting means to be received at its proper station,- means for maintaining the setting means in setting position until the mechanism is set into operation to receive the, card, and means .for releasing the setting means when the mech;-

anism is in operation to receive the card. 1

foration therein in line with a row of arallel perforations,'a plurality of receiv-- mg stations, timing means for determining receipt of cards at each of said stations, se 7. In an'apparatus of the character deting means associated with each row of sorting stations, an plate perforations and individual to each of means for transmitting cards from said stations, saidsetting means being intosaid stations, a movable timdividually actuated by said detector pins ing member, a setting means associated with when detecting a card characteristic to. set each stationgand adapted to be operated by said timing means, nieans for locking-any of a card in'the analyzer, settable means carsaid setting means in position to set sai ried on the timing member and arrangedto timing mean, and means to release the locked means'for mamsetting means when the corresponding timing taining said setting means'in settingposition means is set. for a definite period, and means'assocated with each station and adapted to be operated as the card which analyzer, the analyzer ,forated plate having parallel rows of perhy a set settablemeans operated such settable means reaches the for'ations adapted'to register with perforations in a cardto be analyzed, pin means station, to cause the card to enter the stati'on. 8. In an apparatus of the character described, analyzing means for detecting a characteristic of a card, a receiving station to detect a characteristic of a card indicated by a perforation therein in line with a row of parallel perforations, a plurality of receiving stations, timing means for deterfor cards, timing means for determining mining receipt of cardsat each of said stareceipt of cards at said station, setting tions, setting means associated with each means actuated by the analyzer for setting row. of plate perforations and individual said timing means, andmeansfor locking to each of said stations, said setting means in position to set the timbeing individually actuated ing mechanism. tor pins when detecting a 9. In an apparatus of the character deistic to set said -timingmeans, means for scribed, analyzing means for detecting a loclnngiTiy OfrSflld; setting meansrin posiby sai detecfor determining 10. In an apparatus of the character deli perforations I characteristic of a card indicated by a persaid settin means the analvzer for setting f a a card indicated by a 12. In an apparatus of the character described, an analyzer comprising a percard charactertion to set said timing means, and means parallel rows of perforations, a plurality.

of setting mea s each including a baron one side of sai plate, said bars extending lengthwise of the rows of perforations therev in, one of said bars being associated with each station, pin detector means projectableunder control of a perforated card through said perforations to operate said setting bars, settable means for each station adapted to he set by the associated setting bar to cause a card controlling the operation of a setting barto be received at its proper station, and means for maintaining a set-' ting means in setting position until said settable means is set.

14. 'In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of sorting stations, an analyzer comprising pin detector means adapted to enter perforations in a card, thrust-receiving means adapted'to be engaged by said pins when entering perforations in a card, one of said thrust-receiving means being associated witheach station, a setting means for-each station, settable means for each station adapted to be set by the associated thrust-receiving means to. cause a card vcontrolling the operation of a thrust-receiving means to be received at its pro r station, and means for maintaining a setting means in setting position relative to the 'settable means until the latter is set.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of sortingstations, an analyzer comprising a plate havi g parallel rows of erforations, a pluality of bars on one si e of said plate, said bars ex tending lengthwise of the rows of perforations therein, one of said bars being associated with each station, pin detector means projectable under control of a perforated card through said perforations to operate said setting bars, a setting means at each station, settable means for each station adapted to be set by the associated setting bar to cause a card controlling the operation of a setting .bar to be received at its proper station, and means for maintaining a setting means'in setting position relative to the settable means until the latter is set.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, "a plurality of sorting stations, .an analyzer comprising a plate having parallel rows of perforations, a' plurality of movable setting bars on one side of said plate, said bars extending lengthwise of the rows of perforations thereimone of said bars being associated with each station, pin detector means pr'o'ectable under control of a perforated card t rough said perforations to operate said setting bars, asetting means for each station and operable by one of said bars, settabl'e means for each station adapted to be set by the associated setting means to cause a card controlling "the operation of a setting bar to be received at its proper station, and means for maintaining a setting bar locked in setting position until the settable means is set. 7

17. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of sorting stations, an analyzer comprising a plate having parallel rows 'of perforations, a plurality of movable setting bars on one side of said plate, said bars extending lengthwise of the rows of perforations theieirn pne of said bars be'ingassociated with eachitaticn, pin detector means projectable under control of a perforated card through said perforations to operate said setting bars, a setting means for each station and operable by one of said bars, settabl'e means for each station adapted to be set by the associated setting means to cause a card controlling the operation of a setting bar to be received at its proper station, means for maintaining a setting bar locked in setting position until the settable means is set, and means whereby a locked setting'bar is released during ananalyzing movement of the pin detector means.

18; In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of sorting stations, an analyzer comprising a plate having parallel rows of perforations, a plurality of mov able setting bars on one side of said plate, said bars extending lengthwise of the rows of perforations therein, one of said bars be ing associated with each statiompin detector means projectible under control of a perforated card through said, perforations to operate said setting bars, a setting means for each station and operable by one of said bars, settable means for each station adapted to be set by the associated setting means to cause a card controlling the operation of a setting bar to be received at its proper lit) station, means for maintaining a setting bar locked in setting position until the settablefmeans is set, and means whereby a previouslylocked setting bar is released just previousvto engagement of said pin detector means with said her to again set the same.

19; In an apparatus -.of the character described, a plurality ofsorting stations, an analyzer comprisinga plate having parallel ,rows of perforations, a plurality of mov able setting bars on one side of said plate, said bars extending lengthwise, of the rows of perforations therein, one of said bars being associated with each station, pin deiii? ' setting means tector means projectible nnder'control of a perforated card through said perforations to operate'said settin bars, a setting means for each station an operable by one of said bars, settable means, for each station adapted to be set by the associated setting means to cause a card controlling the opera-' tion setting bar to be received at its "proper station, means for maintaining a setting bar locked in setting position until the" settable "previonsl locked setting bar is released from ioclred'position during movement of the pin detector means toward said bar.

20. in an apparatus of the character described, an analyzer comprising a perforated plate having parallel rows of perform tions adapted to register with perforations in a card to be analyzed, pin means to detect a characteristic of a card indicated by perforation therein in line with a row of. parallel perforations, plurality of receiving stations, timing means for determining receipt of cards at each of said stations, a for each timing means, a thrust-receiving bar in line with each row of plate perforations and individual to each of said setting means, each bar being individually actuated by said detector pins when detecting card characteristics to control a setting means to set an associated timin means, and means for locking any of said setting means in position to set its associated timing means.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, an analyzer comprising a perforatedplate having tions adapted to register with perforations in a card to be analyzed, pin means to detect a characteristic of a card indicated by a perforation therein in line with a row of payrailel pcrforationsm, pllurality ofgrecciving stations, timing means for determining receipt of cards at each of said stations, a setting means for each timing means,- athrnst-receiving bar in line with each row of plate perforations and individual to each of said setting means, each bar being individually actuated by said detector pins when detecting card characteristics .to control a setting means to set an associated timing means, means for locking any of said setting means in position to set its associated timing means, and means to release the locked setting means when its associated timing means is set. v 22. In an apparatus of the character described, an analyzer comprising a perforated plate having parallel rows of perforations adapted to register with perforations in a card to be analyzed, pin means to detect a characteristic of a card indicated by a perforation therein in line with a row of parallel perforations, a plurality of receiving stations, timing means for determeans is set, means whereby a' "foration therein in line with a parallel rows of perforasupporting each of said bars, and means for for each timing locking any of said setting means in position to set its associated timing means.

23. In an apparatus of the scribed, an analyzer comprisin a perforated plate having parallel rows 0 perforations adapted to register with perforations in a card to be analyzed, pin means to detect a.

characteristic of a card indicated by a perrow of paral-v lei perforations, a plurality of receiving stations, timing means for determining receipt of cards at each 'of said stations, asetting means for each timing means, a thrust-receiving bar inline with each'rcw of plate perforations and individual to each of said setting means, each bar being individually actuated by said detectorpins when detecting card characteristics to control a setting means to set an associated timing means, parallel'motion means supporting each of said bars, last-named means for locking any of said setting means in position to set its associated timing means.

2a. In an apparatus of the character des scribed, an analyzer comprisin a perforated plate having parallel rows of perforations adapted to register with perforations in a card to be analyzed, pin means to detect a characteristic of'a card indicated by a perforation therein in line with a row of parallelperfor'atiohs, a plurality of receiving stations, timing means for determining receipt of cards at each of said stations, a setting means for each timing means, a thrust-receiving bar in line with each rowof'plate perforations and individual-to each of said setting means, each bar being individually actuated b said detector pins when detectmg card 0 aracteristics to' control a-setting means to set an associated timing means, levers supporting each of said bars, and means cooperating with said levers for looking any of said setting means in position to set its associated timing means. Q

'25. In an apparatus of the character described, an analyzer comprisin a perforated plate having parallel rows of perforations adapted to register with perforations in a card to be anal zed, pin means to detect a characteristic 0 a card indicated by a perforation therein in line with a row of paralel perforations, a plurality of receiving stations, timing means for determining receipt of cards at each of said stations, a setting character deand means cooperating with said means for each timing means, a thrust-receiving barin line with each row of plate perforations and individual to each of said setting means, each bar being individually actuated by said detector pins when detecting card characteristics to control a setting means to set an associated timing means, levers supporting each of said bars, and means common to all of said levers for locking any of said-setting means in position to set its associated timing means.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, an analyzer comprising a perforated plate having parallel rows of perforations adapted to register with perforations in a card to be analyzed, pin means to detect a characteristic of a card indicated by a perforation therein in line with a row of parallel perforations, a plurality of receiving stations, timing means for determining receipt of cards at each of said stations, a setting means to set an associated timing means, a

pair of levers beneath each bar,v said levers being interlocked with each other at their inner ends and supporting said bar at their outer ends, and means cooperating with said levers to lock any of said setting means in position to set its associated timing means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM W. LASKER.

Witnesses:

AoNEs E. CUNNEEN, G. G. Lionmtm. 

